Council Minutes - Town of Cambridge

COUNCIL MINUTESTUESDAY 26 JUNE 2012CR12.802012/2013 REVIEW OF FEES AND CHARGES - THE BOULEVARD CENTREPURPOSE OF REPORT:To review the current fee and charges for the Boulevard Centre (TBC), located under theCambridge Library.BACKGROUND:The Boulevard Centre (TBC) is a purpose built Conference Centre constructed as a part of theCambridge library redevelopment that opened in July 2002. The Centre generates revenuefrom a number of sources including room hire, set up fees, catering and staff. It is envisagedthat income for the 2011/2012 financial year will meet budget.Each year as part of the budgetary process the fees and charges of all Council facilities arereviewed and this report shall review the market pricing making recommendations to fees andcharges.DETAILS:ClassificationsThe previous fee classifications for room hire at TBC were as follows:• Community Rate Non profit charitable or benevolent organisations where there is no charge toparticipate• Activity & AgencyRateNot for profit community based organisations and Local GovernmentAgencies• Commercial & Private and business functions or fundraisers plus all Commercial business.Functions• State & Federal State and Federal Government organisationsGovernmentThese classifications were reviewed and amended in April 2012 as part of the biannual policyreview, with the Community Rate classification deleted. The amended classifications for theBoulevard Centre are structured around the classifications set out in the 2012 policy review,specifically:• Not for Profit Not-for-profit groups and charitable organisationsAgency• Government Local, State and Federal Government organisations• Commercial Commercial business and private hirersAs a result, the 'Activity' classification is replaced with the 'Agency' classification which is acombination of the Old Community Rate and Activity Rate.Room Hire Fees AnalysisThe following graph (GRAPH 1) shows the TBC’s similar major competitors, The UWA Cluband Technology Park and their hire rates against various room capacities. The competitorslisted are the only conference or function centres that provide a direct comparison to the TBCas they are either run by Government and/or not connected to a hotel. In addition, the otherH:\CEO\GOV\COUNCIL MINUTES\12 MINUTES\JUNE 2012\C CR.DOCX 105